Gnarled Root Dungeon

The Gnarled Root Dungeon is the first Dungeon featured in Oracle of Seasons. The dungeon is located on a small island within North Horon.

Dungeon Entrance

In order to gain entrance to the Gnarled Root Dungeon, Link will first need to acquire the Gnarled Key from the Maku Tree in Horon Village. Before Link can visit the Maku Tree, he will need to prove his courage by acquiring the Wooden Sword from the Hero's Cave along the Western Coast.

After meeting with the Maku Tree, he will give you the Gnarled Key. He instructs Link to head north to the giant root near the lake. Along Link's way, he can speak with Impa, who points Link in the direction of the Gnarled Root Dungeon, by telling him it is straight ahead.

The entrance is on a small island at the west portion of North Horon. Once Link arrives, he must use the Gnarled Key on the keyhole, causing the dungeon to appear from the ground.

Dungeon Overview

The Gnarled Root Dungeon is a very straight forward and simplistic dungeon. Most of the enemies that Link encounters are very basic, capable of being defeated with just a few sword slashes.

Similarities to The Eagle

The Gnarled Root Dungeon bears a strong resemblance to the first dungeon in The Legend of Zelda, The Eagle. Both dungeons are located on a small island near the center of the Overworld and are accessed by a bridge to the east. The entrance to the Gnarled Root Dungeon is within a tree, much like the original Legend of Zelda.

The actual dungeon room layout is completely identical to the Eagle. This includes the location leading to the dungeon item at the top portion of the dungeon. In The Legend of Zelda, a group of Goriyas could be defeated to acquire the Boomerang. Similarly, the mini-boss in the Gnarled Root Dungeon are a pair of Goriyas. The room leading up to the battle with Aquamentus contains a group of Floormasters. Furthermore, the location of the actual boss and Essence of Nature are identical to where Link fought Aquamentus and where he acquired the Triforce Shard.

Enemies

• Blade Trap
• Chaser
• Floormaster
• Gel
• Keese
• Moblin
• Stalfos
• Zol

Gallery

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  Gnarled Root Dungeon before using the Gnarled Key.

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Trivia

• Both the external and internal portions of the Gnarled Root Dungeon bear a strong resemblance to Level 1: The Eagle from The Legend of Zelda.

References

1. ↑ "Then I give you this key. Go to the giant root near the lake up north! The first essence should be there, but I'd expect some resistance. Be careful! I'll just--ahhm, rest until--ohh, no energy...ZZZ" — Maku Tree, Oracle of Seasons.
2. ↑ "A gnarled root? Go straight from here. I am sure I saw one there." — Impa, Oracle of Seasons.